NYCT to begin next found of repairs to Flushing Line in February

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit (NYCT) will begin the latest round of ongoing work to modernize, improve and fortify NYCT's Flushing 7 Line in February.

MTA said that when completed, this work will result in a more reliable subway line with the ability to run more trains and improve performance for growing neighborhoods in Queens.

This capital improvement work and the associated service impacts will continue through 2014 and the majority of the upcoming service diversions support the interconnected trio of ongoing infrastructure projects aimed at improving the Flushing 7 Line: the continued installation of CBTC (Communications-Based Train Control), the replacement of critical track panels and reconstruction inside the Steinway Tube under the East River. The tube work also includes tunnel duct reconstruction and work to replace and improve components damaged during Superstorm Sandy.

The multi-year, $550-million capital improvement project to replace the antiquated 50- to 90-year-old signaling system on the 7 line with state-of-the-art CBTC technology will continue into 2017. Upon completion, NYCT says the technology will reduce crowding, prevent signal problems associated with old equipment and further accommodate the population growth in Queens.

NYCT will also continue its work bringing the 120-year old Steinway Tube back to a state of good repair. Work in 2014 will include $33 million in component replacement and upgrades, which will include demolishing and reconstructing collapsed ducts, which house critical electrical and communication lines for new cables that supply power for the new technology NYCT is installing. NYCT will also be rehabilitating the tube's pump room and discharge lines, which were damaged during Sandy.

Additionally, NYCT will address critical track conditions along the line that require the removal and replacement of elevated track panels that have neared or exceeded their useful lifespan and pose risks not just to safety but also to the 7 Line's operational capacity. In all, NYCT expects to renew and replace approximately 2,980 feet of old track representing a $15-million investment.